Maternal folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels in pregnancies affected by congenital malformations other than neural tube defects.

摘要

Fifty percent or more of neural tube defects (NTDs) can be prevented by an adequate periconceptional intake of folic acid. It has been suggested that folk acid and/or multivitamins, taken periconceptionally, have a role in the prevention of many other congenital anomalies but the results of these studies have not been consistent (Botto et al., 2000; Bower et al., 2006; Czeizel, 1998; Shaw et al., 2000). Botto et al. (2004) conducted a comprehensive review of the preventive effect of multivitamin supplementation for all birth defects combined and specific congenital anomalies and concluded that periconceptional multivitamin use reduces the overall occurrence of birth defects in addition to the established effect on NTDs. Food fortification with folic acid to prevent NTDs has made it possible to examine the effect of folic acid on rates of birth defects other than NTDs. The effect has been unclear with some studies showing a decrease in the rates of one or more defects although others have not confirmed these findings (Canfield et al., 2005; Castilla et al., 2003)